Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike McCarthy
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy.
With the days winding down to the 2026 NFL Draft, the question of whether the Pittsburgh Steelers will draft a quarterback remains one of the biggest storylines.
With Pittsburgh selecting at No. 21 overall, the Steelers will likely be out of the Fernando Mendoza sweepstakes, assuming the Las Vegas Raiders take him at No. 1. That leaves Ty Simpson as the next logical option.
“My eyes tell me Ty Simpson’s every bit as good as—in some ways better and more NFL-ready than—[Fernando] Mendoza,” The Ringer’s Todd McShay said.
The Steelers have been linked to Simpson for months, regardless of whether Aaron Rodgers returns. Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton is once again pointing to Pittsburgh as a top landing spot following Simpson’s showing at Alabama’s Pro Day.
Steelers Viewed as Ideal Landing Spot for Ty Simpson
The first thing Moton points to is that even though the Steelers continue to express confidence in last year’s sixth-round pick Will Howard, they simply can’t bank on him yet.
There’s also the reality that, under new head coach Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh is in a position to develop a young quarterback the right way.
“While some believe that McCarthy was an underwhelming hire, he could be the right head coach to groom Ty Simpson into a starter. Also, the rookie signal-caller would have two big targets in two-time Pro Bowler DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr,” Moton wrote.
“Pittsburgh can set up Simpson for immediate success.”
One of the biggest concerns with Simpson, however, is his lack of experience. He has just 15 career starts, all coming last season at Alabama, and there were even questions entering the year about whether he would win the starting job.
Simpson still led Alabama to an 11-4 record and a return to the College Football Playoff, throwing for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Still, the idea of “immediate success” may be optimistic given the track record of quarterbacks entering the NFL with limited starting experience.
Ty Simpson’s Draft Stock Remains Uncertain Despite Strong Pro Day
Simpson helped himself at Alabama’s Pro Day, putting together an efficient throwing session in front of all 32 teams that highlighted his accuracy and overall command.
“I know I’m ready,” Simpson said. “Wherever I go, whether I have to sit or play, just know I’m going to give it my all.”
According to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, Simpson’s performance reinforced his standing near the top of this quarterback class behind Fernando Mendoza, but it didn’t necessarily clear up where he’ll be selected.
There’s still a wide range of opinions across the league.
Howe detailed that while teams are impressed with Simpson’s processing ability, leadership and decision-making, there are still concerns tied to his limited starting experience and durability after dealing with injuries late last season.
That’s led to a split evaluation.
Some teams view him as a potential first-round pick, while others see him as more of a second- or even third-round option depending on how the board falls.
Because of that, Simpson’s landing spot remains one of the more unpredictable storylines heading into the draft.
And that uncertainty could work in Pittsburgh’s favor.
The Steelers are one of the few teams picking in the middle of the first round that wouldn’t need to rush Simpson onto the field right away. That type of situation — one that allows him to develop over time — is exactly what many evaluators believe he needs early in his career.
Which makes the decision at No. 21 even more interesting.